Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-21
WHY MOI Arrest Them &?

To the Editor Of the Digpatch:
On the 9th of June Judge Bond
issued his restraining order on certain
persons to prevent the bringing of suits
under the act Of May II, 1887, COM
monty known as the coupon-crusher.
On the 9Th of October, in the case OF
Mr.. McCabe, Commonwealth attorney
for Loudoun, Judge Bond insisted that
no matter whether a man is served
with that order or not, if he knows that
restraining order has been made it is
contempt of court for him to violate it.
Now, since that order has been is
sued, David Il. Moore, Commonwealth S
attorney for Rockbridge county,
brought suit in the Circuit Court of that
county against Dr. Hileman, andJudge
William Mclaughlin. of that circuit,
took jurisdiction of the case and di-
rected judgment to be entered up
against the defendant, which was done
by J. G. Bouwd, the clerk of the court.
Under this judgment the execution
has been put into the hands OF Il. Il.
Witt, the sheriff of said county.
More lately, in fact since the 9th day
of October, Mr.. +. Il. Meredith, the
Commonwealth attorney for Prince
William county, has brought suit in
the Circuit Court of that county in some
twenty-seven cases under the same law ;
and Judge James Keith took jurisdic-
ton and gave judgment in all those
cases, which are now docketed.
More lately still the same Judge Keith
held Circuit Court in the county Of
Loudoun, and finding Mr.. McCabe, the
Commonwealth attorney of that coun-
ty, under arrest in Richmond for con-
tempt of court in the same class of cases,
he himself tried and entered up iudg-
ment against JOG defendants under the
same Act of Assembly.
HERE ARE TWO JUDGES,
two Commonwealth attorneys, two
clerks, and a sheriff all in contempt for
acting in violation Of the restraining
order of Judge Bond.
Now, if Mr.. Royal and his colleagues
have the courage of their convictions,
they will arrest these judges and other
officers who have clearly brought them
selves within the rule, and are in open
and defiant contempt of Judge Bond.
Having once intimidated a grand
jury, they have very good opportu-
nifty of intimidating Judge William
Mclaughlin and Judge James Keith
and OF giving the Legislature now
to assemble in a little more than six
weeks a foretaste of what will be
done to them at the next stride
Of Bond and the bondholders, or
rather of the recreant Vlrginians
who will give this State. bound
band and foot, into the keeping OF a
tyran5 Judiciary, in order that they
may pay their taxes at half price.
Now, if these lawyers are contending
for h great principle, let them follow it
to its logical conclusion. If they think
duty to their clients demands that they
shall bankrupt their country and ruin
and degrade their fellow-citizens, let
them not finch from their duty at all
events lei them try to do it. Let them
face the music. Two of the foremost
Judges of Virginia have thrown down
the glove; let them take it up. 1t will
not DO to say that the case is made up
now before the Supreme Court of the
United States to be decided on the 18th
of November. Nobody knows how
that case will be decided. Mr. Cleve-
land las not seen fit to fill the vacancy,
and there are eight members on the
bench.
THERE ARE FOUR THERE
who decided Poindexter Us. GreenhOw
against the four who gave the mastery
dissenting opinion and We do not
know if all these latter will adhere to
that opinion. A divided court invites
to a renewed contest. The coupon tax
payers, who are making breastworks of
the bondholders. will have to fight it
over again and Mr.. Royal will have
strengthened the next cases with
his friends in the Supreme Court by
showing the extent of the rebellion
against Bond. Let him arrest all these
officers let him bring them up in line
before the court ; let him exhibit, by
the presence Of these defiant judges,
how fixed is the determination OF Vir-
ginia to fight, not Bond the judge not
the lawyers, whose vocation it is to urge
the wrong; not the bondholders, who
claim the money they won by fraud,
but her own recreant citizens.
1t will not do for the lawyers to say
it will be bad policy to exasperate the
sons still further by an additional af-
front to the venerable mother. That
evaporation exists now.
THE INSULT
has been given, the blow has been
struck. the outrage has been perpetra-
ted, the feeling has been aroused.
And Virginia is now in temper to
retaliate, to repudiate the entire debt,
if necessary to her liberties, to scorch
with the fire of filial and patriotic in
dignation any man who would over
burden his neighbor by offering to pay
his own taxes in coupons.
Even if the Supreme Court shall
decide against the coupon-tenders, il
will make 10 difference now. When
the Legislature convenes and is
officially informed, as it must be by
the Governors Message, what has been
done or attempted, the war against the
coupon-tenderers viii commence, the
Riddlebereer bill will be repealed OF
limited in its term, and the machinery
of courts as yet untouched will be
brought to bear in a very heavy way
upon the business OF the men who
are now prepared to ruin the State il
they are not allowed to pay their take:
at balf-ratss. Then lot Mr.. Royal
arrest all these people who are now in
contempt. Let him show his faith by
| his works let him do his worst